i wouldnt be surprised if true, Joe Ward is future world champion material, without a doubt.

he's only 19, maybe 20 now though ,and he is as strong as an ox. He has absolutely schooled and man handled Kenny Egan (Bejing silver medalist) the last two times they've fought in the irish senior finals. Im actually surprised he didnt go pro after he didnt make the London olympics

Heard today that Rob McCracken had a few of the British Lionheart WSB team in during the week running the rule over them, also gave them a look at Carl Froch's camp
Irish and European Light Heavyweight champ got 3 rounds of sparring with Carl and also 3 with Bellew.

Ward who only turned 19 gave Bellew a real go in sparring and dropped him with a real peach of a right hand. McCracken has described him as a beast

Joe Ward is the irish lhw amateur champion for the past 2 years, and finalist for the year before that, when barely 17 if my memory serves me right.

world junior champion, european junior champion. He was blatantly robbed and denied a place at the london olympics when he lost in turkey, to a turk no less in the final qualifier. He was ranked number 1 in the world at lhw as well

he fights like a pro, is built like a brick **** house. Ive seen him box a few time here in Ireland, and as i said earlier, i was actually shocked Eddie Hearn didnt try and sign him after he didnt make our olympic squad.

i even tweeted Eddie Hearn about him the night he was "beaten" by the turk to deny him a place in the olympics.

i know his uncle, and if im not mistaken, he's actually a cousin, or second cousin, of Martin Ward that recently debuted on a recent Matchroom card.

BUT, it would still be a VERY different scenario if Bellew stepped in the ring for a pro fight with this kid.

In sparring, you DO hold back a bit, but the young cubs less so. So while Bellew was maybe going for it at 25% this young kid was trying to land with 110%ers.

Fair enough Bellew was dropped.

In the ring when man and boy went at it, I absolutely KNOW who my money would be on

Sparring isn't fabrication. But you can't replicate the real thing and some people react differently.

Audley with headgear on is by all accounts a World Beater. Take it off though and we all know what happens

Thats very true

Just thought it was quite funny, apparently he went easy on the kid but then saw the kid was tough (apparently has won numerous world titles at junior and youth level, also won his first ever international senior title-european champ at light heavyweight) and stepped it up a gear but got his ass handed to him, kid had serious power and boxed the head off Bellew. He didn't behave in a good way afterwards either, mouthing off at McCracken for blindsiding him with a kid.

McCracken was bewildered himself, had no idea the kid had those kind of skills in his locker. One to watch id say!

Bellew is in action soon enough too isn't he? or would it be a case of a fighter being rusty?

Joe Ward is the irish lhw amateur champion for the past 2 years, and finalist for the year before that, when barely 17 if my memory serves me right.

world junior champion, european junior champion. He was blatantly robbed and denied a place at the london olympics when he lost in turkey, to a turk no less in the final qualifier. He was ranked number 1 in the world at lhw as well

he fights like a pro, is built like a brick **** house. Ive seen him box a few time here in Ireland, and as i said earlier, i was actually shocked Eddie Hearn didnt try and sign him after he didnt make our olympic squad.

i even tweeted Eddie Hearn about him the night he was "beaten" by the turk to deny him a place in the olympics.

i know his uncle, and if im not mistaken, he's actually a cousin, or second cousin, of Martin Ward that recently debuted on a recent Matchroom card.

Just thought it was quite funny, apparently he went easy on the kid but then saw the kid was tough (apparently has won numerous world titles at junior and youth level, also won his first ever international senior title-european champ at light heavyweight) and stepped it up a gear but got his ass handed to him, kid had serious power and boxed the head off Bellew. He didn't behave in a good way afterwards either, mouthing off at McCracken for blindsiding him with a kid.

McCracken was bewildered himself, had no idea the kid had those kind of skills in his locker. One to watch id say!

Bellew is in action soon enough too isn't he? or would it be a case of a fighter being rusty?

i find it hard to believe neither bellew nor mccracken didn't know of joe ward, everyone here is well aware of his talents, he's one of the best prospects in the game worldwide imo

I meant the manner of it bewildered him, an amateur out of competition gave a drubbing to a pro who was deep in training and wasn't exactly holding back himself. I think McCracken was expecting a leisurly spar for the both of them, giving the kid a taste of what to expect against Britains best pro in his division.

And for what its worth i'm a big Bellew fan, great bloke and really good fighter

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieC

i find it hard to believe neither bellew nor mccracken didn't know of joe ward, everyone here is well aware of his talents, he's one of the best prospects in the game worldwide imo